Trolley device

ABSTRACT

A trolley device capable of lifting and moving an open topped container, comprising a body part having handle means and means which permit movement of the device along a surface, the body part having primary container-contactable means including at least one container-contactable part located above ground level when said body part is upright which can engage a lower external side of such a container, and secondary container contactable means including at least one container-contactable part spaced above the said primary contacting means when said body part is upright and which can engage an upper internal side of the container, said body part capable of pivoting about the said means which permit movement to raise both said container-contactable means.

This invention is concerned with a trolley device. More particularly theinvention is concerned with a trolley device intended for movingcontainers, particularly rimmed containers and more particularlyopen-topped garden containers from one position to another.

Container gardening has increased in popularity over the years, thegrowth in popularity encouraged by media coverage directed to gardeningactivities and also by numerous books and magazines. Virtually allgarden centres supply an extensive range of pots and similar gardeningcontainers to suit different tastes and types of gardens.

When these containers are filled with material such as soil or compostand especially when holding a growing shrub or other plant, they becomeheavy and hence difficult or awkward to move around manually. Frequentlymore than one person is required to lift and move a filled containerfrom one location to another. There is a need for such filled containersto be moved around as a result of seasonal changes, the need toreplenish soil or to replace plants and shrubs, or simply to provide amore attractive appearance.

In particular, when medium sized or larger pots or containers have beenfilled with soil they become difficult and awkward to move even more sowhen they contain well established plants or shrubs. Displacing suchfilled open-topped containers from one location to another thereforerisks discomfort or possible injury to persons lacking appropriatephysical strength, the elderly and people tending to suffer back pain.This problem in moving filled containers is greater when the containersare already located in saucers or trays having an external lipprojecting above ground level, frequently the case when containers suchas plant or shrub pots are situated on decking or within conservatories.Moreover garden centres and other retail outlets also need regularly tomove individual display pots around. It is accordingly an object of thepresent invention to provide a trolley device which provides assistancein the lifting and moving of containers, particularly pots containingsoil and or compost with or without plants or shrubs therein. Inparticular the present invention seeks to provide such a trolley devicecapable of lifting and moving such containers by one operative and witha minimum of physical effort.

According to this invention there is provided a trolley device capableof lifting and moving a container, comprising a body part having handlemeans and means which permit movement of the device along a surface, thebody part having primary container-contactable means including at leastone container-contactable part located above ground level when said bodypart is upright which can engage a lower external side of such acontainer, and secondary container contactable means including at leastone container-contactable part spaced above the said primary contactingmeans when said body part is upright and which can engage an upperinternal side of the container, said body part capable of pivoting in amanner to raise both said container-contactable means.

The body part preferably comprises an elongate length of tubing such asmetal tubing, which may have for example a rectangular or squarecross-section. The body part may comprise a plurality of such elongatetubular members which further may preferably be located in a frameworkwherein a plurality of elongate tubular members are generally parallel.The handle means conveniently comprises a handle portion in the form ofan elongate length of tubing which is attached to the body part or whichmay alternatively comprise an integral part thereof. The handle meansmay further comprise, at its remote end, gripping means such as a rubberor foamed sleeve. The means which permit movement of the device maycomprise a wheeled chassis, for example a pair of opposing plate memberscan be spaced apart and connected to form a generally rectangularhousing, in which an axle is located, with wheels provided at the remoteends of the axle. Such a wheeled chassis can either be separate from thebody part in which case it is conveniently attached thereto by bolts orother suitable fasteners, or alternatively it may comprise an integrallyformed part of the said body part. For ease of use and ease ofmanufacture it is however generally preferred for the said means whichpermit movement of the device along the surface to comprise a separatelyattachable wheeled chassis. Such wheeled chassis is most convenientlyadapted to permit conversion of the trolley device from a light dutyembodiment to a heavy duty embodiment. For instance, in such a heavyduty embodiment additional lengths of elongate tubing can be affixed toopposing ends of the chassis part whereby the body part becomes anarrangement incorporating three generally parallel elongate lengths oftubing within a framework. Whilst wheels are preferred for such achassis, other means for permitting transport of the device along thesurface could be substituted. It is preferable for the body part to becapable of pivoting about the means which permit movement, for examplethe body part can swivel about such a wheeled chassis.

The primary container-contactable means preferably comprises a pair ofprojecting spigots, which may extend from one surface of such a wheeledchassis. For example such primary container-contactable means cancomprise short lengths of hollow tubing or preferably solid sectionmaterial such as steel being either round or square cross-section andfitted at their ends spaced from the chassis with frictional grips suchas rubber ferrules which in use are adapted to engage an external lowerside of an open-topped container such as a plant pot. Most preferably,the primary container-contactable means comprise elongate sections ofsolid round section steel, reduced at one end to pass through thechassis sections with a distance piece between and secured with a washerand locknut. This method of assembly adds stiffness to these loadbearing members of the device. In such arrangement, thecontainer-contactable parts of the primary container-contactable meanscomprise the said frictional grips. When the trolley device ispositioned with the means which permit movement in contact with theground and such that the body part is upright, suchcontainer-contactable parts of the primary container-contactable meansare spaced above ground level. Conveniently such container-contactableparts of the primary container-contactable means remain in fixedposition relative to the wheeled chassis if present, and relative to thebody part. In alternative arrangements, the said primarycontainer-contactable means may be moveable with respect to the saidwheeled chassis and body part.

As already indicated above the most preferred containers to be used withthe device include open-topped containers such as plant or shrub potswhich contain significant soil and/or compost together with a shrub orsimilar plant material. Preferably the lower external side of the pot tobe engaged by the said container-contactable parts of the primarycontainer-contactable means comprises surface parts around the externalcircumference of the container, a short distance above ground level.

The secondary container-contactable means preferably comprises amoveable carriage whose position relative to the body part can bevaried. The secondary container-contactable means can be displaceablealong a length of the body part so that the distance between thepreferably fixed primary container-contactable means and the secondarycontainer-contactable means can be varied whereby a variable spacingbetween the two container-contactable means is provided. The secondarycontainer-contactable means includes at least one but preferably twocontainer-contactable-parts which, when the body part is upright, arelocated above the said primary contacting means. Thecontainer-contactable part or parts of the secondarycontainer-contactable means preferably comprise hook members. A pair ofsimilar hook members can be affixed to one part of the secondarycontainer-contactable means. For example, such hook members can besecurely fastened to a plate member which forms part of a moveablecarriage. The hook members preferably have remote ends spaced from themoveable carriage and which are directed inwardly towards the body partof the device, whereas the remote ends of the container-contactableparts of the primary container-contactable means preferably projectoutwardly with respect to the said body part.

Such hook members are preferably arranged whereby the said remote endsare arranged to permit contact with an internal upper side of anopen-topped container. For example, these container-contactable parts ofthe secondary container-contactable means may comprise prongs positionedrelative to the body part to engage internal upper circumferential partsof an open topped container such as a pot. Preferably such parts of theopen-topped container are internal surfaces situated just below a rim onthe internal sidewall of the container.

It is preferred that one of the container-contactable means is moveablerelative to the other along the said body part. It is also preferredthat the said one of the container-contactable means which is moveable,comprises a moveable carriage. Such moveable carriage preferablyincorporates a releasable clamp mechanism.

Such clamp mechanism, where provided, is preferably releasablyspring-urged in frictional engagement with the body part to maintain itsselected position on the body part and resist displacement therefromuntil required by a user of the device.

The secondary container-contactable means are preferably moveablelinearly along the body part towards and away from the preferably fixedprimary container-contactable means. Moveable secondarycontainer-contactable means, where provided, are preferably adapted tobe displaced along the said body part by a hand or foot operable membersuch as a pivoting plate, or by other means such as a lever extending inthe region of the handle means.

The secondary container-contactable means preferably comprises a pair ofgenerally parallel plates, such as metal plates, interconnected by ajoining segment having an aperture through which the body part passes.The primary container-contactable means preferably includes means toenhance frictional engagement between said primary container-contactablemeans and an external lower sidewall of a container. The primarycontainer-contactable means and the secondary container-contactablemeans preferably each comprise at least two container-contactableformations.

The body part of the trolley device preferably comprises one elongatelength of tubing in light duty embodiments, whereas the body partpreferably comprises a plurality, such as three, spaced apart generallyparallel upright elongate lengths of tubing in heavy duty embodiments.

In order that the above and other aspects of the present invention maybe illustrated, more easily appreciated and readily carried into effect,embodiments thereof will now be described, by way of non-limitingexamples only, with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIGS. 1A to 1D show use of one preferred trolley device according to theinvention in connection with raising, moving and lowering an open-toppedplant container;

FIG. 2 is an isometric view of one preferred light-duty embodiment ofthe present invention;

FIG. 3 is an isometric view of an alternative embodiment for moreheavy-duty applications;

FIG. 4 is a part sectional elevation of one suitable form of secondarycontainer-contactable means;

FIG. 5 is a part sectional elevation of a trolley device in either lightor heavy duty form showing means for actuating displacement of thesecondary container-contactable means;

FIG. 6 shows two detailed views of an alternative container contactablepart of the secondary container-contactable means,

FIGS. 7(a) and 7 (b) show views of the trolley device carrying andmoving different types of open-topped containers which need notincorporate a shrub or other plant material,

FIG. 8 depicts a part sectional view from one side of a modified lightduty version of trolley device with additional adjustable primarycontainer-contactable means,

FIG. 9 is a front elevation of that part of the modified trolley deviceshown in FIG. 8,

FIG. 10 is an enlarged detail of adjustable primarycontainer-contactable means illustrated in FIGS. 8 and 9,

FIG. 11 shows use of the modified light duty version of trolley device,in a similar manner to that shown in FIG. 1C,

FIG. 12 shows a still futher embodiment of a light duty version, inwhich the primary container-contactable means are supplemented byadditional container-contactable parts,

FIG. 13 is a sectional view along the line X-X of FIG. 12,

FIG. 14 shows a use of the FIG. 12 embodiment of FIG. 12,

FIG. 15 shows a variation of the embodiment of FIGS. 12 and 13, and

FIG. 16 shows a yet further construction of a trolley wherein thecontainer-contactable formations of the primary container-contactablemeans are arranged to pivot within a horizontal plane.

Referring to the drawings and initially to FIGS. 1A to 1D, theseillustrate a wheeled trolley device which allows for the lifting andmoving of garden pots and similar articles of various diameters, shapes,heights, and weights with limited, if any, need for manual effort beingapplied to the pot itself. The wheeled trolley device attaches itself toone side of the pot only, by means of shaped hooks and rubber ferruledbars, eliminating the need for any type of lifting support beneath thebase of the pot. The result is a container handling technique withminimum effort by the user.

FIGS. 2 & 3 show a bolted modular approach to the trolley assembly thatallows it to be built either as a light duty unit or as a heavy dutyunit, with many parts of light and heavy duty embodiments beinginterchangeable. The light unit has a body part in the form of a singlecentral square tubular member 1 carrying the movable carriage assembly 2with hooks 3 attached and one handle 4. For the heavy duty unit, theshort square tubes carrying the axle 5 are removed from the lowerstretcher sections 6 of the wheeled chassis and replaced with two sidemembers 7 identical to the central tube 1 forming a rigid generallyplanar framework. Additional stretcher sections 8 are bolted across thetop and two handles 9 attached instead of the central one. The moveablecarriage assembly 2 remains on the central tube. Wheel axles 10 arereversible to allow either single or double wheels to be fitted, thelatter providing a larger footprint on softer ground if required. Thelower stretcher 5 of the wheeled chassis carries two fixed support barsand rubber pot protection ferrules 11 at their distant ends.

FIG. 4 shows the central square section tube 1 body part and themoveable carriage assembly 2 which adjusts for different heights ofpots. It comprises a front plate 12 that carries the shaped hooks 3 anda back plate 13. These plates are held together with spacers 14 andbolts through, terminating with self-locking nuts 15, and act as a guidefor the assembly. A bracket 16 is attached to the back plate 13 andserves as a lifting point for raising the moveable carriage assembly 2.It also acts as a support for the spring 17 which exerts an upward forceto the underside of the locking plate 18. This plate is hinged at itsfront edge by being contained in a vee-shaped fold on the front plate12. The arrangement results in a wedging action on the central squaretube 1 and any downward movement of the hooks is prevented. Release ofthe sliding mechanism locking plate 18 is by downward pressure to itsrear edge e.g. by foot or hand operation whereby the assembly will movedown and lock again when pressure is removed.

FIG. 5 demonstrates an additional means for operating the moveablecarriage assembly, supplementary to the previous method. It comprises avertical operating rod 19, with knob attached, sliding in a bearingbracket 20. Its lower end passes through the edge of the locking plate18 and the folded vee of the front plate 12 and terminates with aself-locking nut 21. Attached to the operating rod 19 immediately abovethe locking plate is a fork-shaped pressure plate 22 positioned by meansof nuts on both sides and having its rear ends turned down to makecontact with the upper surface of the locking plate 18. A downward forceapplied to the operating rod 19 in turn applies a force to the lockingplate 18 and the moveable carriage assembly 2 with hooks attached movesdown to its new position and automatically locks on release of pressure.An upward pull on the operating rod 19 allows the self locking nut 23 onthe lower end of the rod to come in contact with the right-angled bendof the front plate 12. Movement upwards is accomplished by the lockingplate 18 self releasing and locking again when movement ceases.

FIGS. 1A to 1D show the trolley in use. It is placed slightly forward ofvertical to the side of the pot, with the hook mechanism in the upwardposition and the rubber ferruled support bars 11 in contact with anexternal lower surface 24 of the pot. The hooks 3 are then forced downinto the soil, or against an internal upper surface 25, conveniently theinside edge of the pot, by either of the aforementioned methods—i.e.using the operating rod (when fitted) or by depressing the rear edge ofthe locking plate 18 by hand or by foot. Pivotal movement backwardsabout the axle of the wheeled chassis using the trolley handle(s) raisesthe primary and secondary container contactable means which lifts thepot clear of the ground, and also out of a saucer if one is present. Itcan now be wheeled away. After it has been lowered to the ground,release of the pot can also be achieved in two ways, either by pullingupward on the operating rod or by lifting the bracket 16 by foot or byhand. For parking and user safety the moveable carriage can be loweredto its maximum limit whereby the hooks will pass between the supportbars and be protected. The trolley will now stand at rest in the nearvertical position.

An alternative hook attachment is shown in FIG. 6. If hooks of adifferent shape are required for special purposes then a collet systemcan be fitted. The double hook 28 is made from one-piece high tensilespring wire and with collets nuts 29 in place it can be quickly attachedas shown.

With reference to FIG. 7 a, shrubs and the like located in a non-rigidcontainer 26 can be lifted and moved more efficiently by replacing therubber ferrules with a hard pointed alternative 30 to achieve a bettergrip.

With reference to FIG. 7 b, plastic garden rubbish containers 27 withsemi-rigid surfaces can also be moved with embodiments of the presenttrolley device.

A convenient trolley device is thus provided which enables one operativewith the minimum of effort to lift relatively heavy open toppedcontainers and move them to almost any required alternative position. Aprincipal advantage stems from the absence of any part of the device tobe intentionally located underneath a container, and the trolley devicebeing capable of completing the lifting task without any need initiallyto partially raise or pivot the container manually.

Referring to FIGS. 8 to 10, a more versatile arrangement of light dutyembodiment is shown although the modifications effected therein areequally applicable to and could easily be incorporated within theheavier duty type of device illustrated in and described above withreference to FIG. 3. In these figures, the primary container-contactablemeans now includes a movable auxiliary container-contactable partincluding a spigot 39 connected to a connector 38 and which spigot isprovided with an auxiliary contacting rubber ferrule 11 a. This rubberferrule corresponds in all material respects with the ferrule 11described hereinabove. The ferrules 11, 11 a incorporate a plurality ofprojections (not referenced) to assist in the frictional contact andengagement with an outer surface part of the container, such as acontainer 44 of the ‘Ali-Baba’ type shown in FIG. 11. In such modifieddevice, a spigot 31 projects from and is rigidly affixed to the lowerstretcher section 6, with a rubber ferrule 11 at the far end of suchspigot. In these respects the arrangement is identical to theembodiments shown in and described with reference to FIG. 2. Themodification comprises a spring biased boss 33 having an integral collar34 rotatably mounted to a limited extent upon the spigot 31. The bossand collar are integrally formed and extend around a common central borethrough which the spigot 31 passes. The spigot 31 includes, at its endnear or adjacent the lower stretcher section 6, a projecting dowel 35adapted to engage one of three slots 36, 37 formed in the collar and inwhich the dowel can be seated.

A connector 38, such as a short length of metal tubing, is mounted inthe boss 33 to extend at an acute angle relative to the spigot 31 and asecondary shorter spigot 39 is affixed to the connector 38 such thatspigots 31, 39 and hence ferrules 11 a, 11 extend in parallel away fromthe device, and at an angle of some 90° relative to the vertical bodypart 1 when the device is in its upright position shown in FIG. 8.Spring loading off the boss 33 by spring 32 causes a positive engagementbetween dowel 35 and either of the slots 36, 37 located in the collar.The auxiliary container-contactable part 11 a can thus be rotated aboutan arc 40, 41 shown in FIG. 9 in which a rest position is depicted at42, and an intermediate position is depicted at 43 before the ferrule 11a reaches its intended position of use shown by the more solid lines ofparts 38, 39 and 11 a in FIGS. 8 and 9. The rest position depicted at 42may, if required be used as a parking or non-operational position forthe auxiliary contacting part 11 a. In order to effect a change ofposition from what may be a parking position 42, through theintermediate position 43 to the operational position (in that the part11 a is intended to come into contact with an external lower surfacepart of a container), the boss 33 can be grasped manually, pulledforward against the spring resistance, rotated and released whereby theprojecting dowel is released from slot 37 in the collar 34 and caused toengage the other provided slot 36. The secondary container-contactablemeans is unaffected in this modified version.

Referring to FIG. 11, the modified light duty version of the device isdepicted in use. It is apparent that for some containers of a particularshape or sidewall profile, the leverage, transportation and release ofcontainers by the device is facilitated or improved if primarycontainer-contactable means present can be raised even further aboveground level compared to the level of fixed position such meanspreviously described and illustrated. The auxiliary contacting parts, inthe operational position, are raised of the order 100 mm above theposition of the already present primary container-contactable means.Ability to engage, transfer and reposition filled pots of the ‘Ali-Baba’sidewall profile shown in FIG. 11, is improved. The improvement alsoapplies to similar pots where the ratio between height and diameterexceed 1-1, by moving the centre of gravity away from the line X (FIG.11) and the lower contacting means. This effectively increases the angleY (FIG. 11), shortens the length of the line X and provides a more evenload distribution onto the hooks forming part of the secondarycontainer-contactable means, and the ferrules/spigots utilised ascomponents of the primary container-contactable means.

In the FIG. 12 arrangement, the primary container-contactable means isfurther modified by the provision, in total, of four separatecontainer-contactable formations 11 and 11 a wherein two suchformations, in the nature of rubber ferrules incorporating a pluralityof friction assisting raised projections, are provided at either end ofa pivot arm 39 a. This pivot arm is mounted for limited pivotal movementabout a pivot 47 provided by way of pivot bush 47 a between opposedplates 38 a of a bracket 50 formed from sheet metal channel sections.The brackets are rigidly affixed, e.g. by means of bolts 49, to thelower stretcher section, and project outwardly from the body portion 1at an inclined angle.

The pivot arm 39 a is spring biased by spring 48 such that before useand when the body portion 1 is upright as depicted in FIG. 13, the pivotarm 39 a is generally or substantially parallel to but spaced from thesaid body part. In this position, a gap or spacing between the rearsurface of the pivot arm 39 a and an adjacent edge of the channelsection bracket 50, provides for the pivotal movement and a stop or restposition in abutment between that rear surface of the pivot arm and edgeof the section. This is depicted by the two positions shown of the pivotarm in FIG. 13, and in FIG. 14 wherein an open-topped container of the‘Ali-Baba’ type has been lifted out of its companion saucer by tiltingthe body part 1 backwards a few degrees from the upright.

This alternative container support system, as shown in FIGS. 12 to 14provides four contact points within the primary container-contactablemeans, to abut corresponding lower sidewall external portions of thecontainer. A particular benefit is that this arrangement alignsautomatically to various sidewall contours without the need for manualadjustments.

This arrangement could be fashioned into the heavy duty version ofdevice without difficulty.

Referring to FIG. 15, the arrangement of trolley device correspondssubstantially with the embodiments depicted in and described above withreference to FIGS. 12 and 13. The difference is that the spring (48—FIG.13) is omitted, and in the secondary container-contactable means, theprojecting arms are provided with a rubber ferrule 11 b in place of thesharp point. The variation of FIG. 15 may function more effectively thanthe embodiment of FIGS. 12 and 13, with an improved self-aligningfunction of the vertically pivoting arm of the primarycontainer-contactable means.

Referring to FIG. 16, a plan view of the modified trolley device isdepicted, with an array of three different pot sizes. Where theconstructional features correspond to those of above describedembodiments, the same reference numerals have been used. In thispreferred embodiment, the primary container-contactable means iscomposed of a pair of horizontally mounted and horizontally pivotingpivot arm 39 b. Each individual pivot arm 39 b is provided with a pairof container-contactable rubber ferrules 11, 11 a which are adapted toengage an outer lower surface of a pot container. The horizontal pivotarms 39 b are mounted upon a lower support bracket 51 by means of pivots47 a. The lower support bracket in turn is rigidly affixed to the lowerchassis stretcher 6 to project outwardly therefrom, and which is spacedabove ground when the device is positioned with its handle upright. Inconsequence, the rubber ferrules 11 and 11 a of the primarycontainer-contactable means are similarly spaced above ground when thedevice is in the same position, and operate in a self-aligning fashionto contact outer lower surface parts of the container when the device ispresented to a suitable container and caused to engage same for liftingand moving.

In this embodiment, the secondary (upper) container-contactable meansare also modified in that a triangulated framework array 2 a is fastenedto the corresponding moveable mounting plate 18, and the arms 3 a boltedthereto at 29 a project convergently so that a notional continuation oftheir length in a direction away from the device intersects a diameteralong the line X-X of a pot container having circular cross-section. Themodified arms are provided with rubber ferrules 11 b, of smaller sizethan ferrules 11, 11 a, at their remote ends adapted to contact an upperinterior surface of the container. Such ferrules can be preferred forpots constructed of plastic which might be damaged by a sharp point,without interfering in their ease of use upon depressing these ends intoand below the level of earth, compost or other material optionallypresent in the pot.

As depicted in FIG. 15, it is also preferred that the vertical plane inwhich the arms 3 a lie, intersects the pivot point 47 a of the pivotingarms 39 b and this is ideally positioned mid-way along the length of therespective pivot arm. Such an arrangement provides better stability forlarger diameters of pots and helps to reduce stresses to the pot bysplitting the load into two areas instead of one.

Although described with respect to open-topped containers such as gardencontainers, the present invention is equally advantageous in manoeuvringmany types of container whether open, as in the case of gardencontainers or closed, such as drums or barrels, having a rim ofsufficient depth to be engaged by hooks 3,28. An example is illustratedin FIG. 17 in which the embodiment of FIG. 1 is used to move a barrel 52having a closed top 53 and a rim 54 of sufficient depth to be engaged byhooks 3.

1. A trolley device capable of lifting and moving a container from anupright rest position, the device comprising a body part having handlemeans and means which permit movement of the device along a surface, thebody part having container-contactable means which consist of primaryand secondary container-contactable means, the primarycontainer-contactable means being spaced above ground when said bodypart is upright and including at least one container-contactable partprojecting outwardly from the body part and adapted to abut an externallower side wall of such a container, the secondary container contactablemeans spaced above said primary container-contactable means when saidbody part is upright and including at least one container-contactablepart adapted to abut an internal upper side wall of the container, saidbody part capable of pivotal movement to raise and lower both saidcontainer-contactable means.
 2. A trolley device as claimed in claim 1,wherein one of the contain contactable means is moveable relative to theother along the body part.
 3. A trolley device as claimed in claim 1,wherein the secondary container-contactable means is slidably moveablewith respect to the body part and comprises a moveable carriageincorporating a releasable clamp operable to provide a range of stoppositions between uppermost and lowermost positions of the clamp.
 4. Atrolley device as claimed in claim 3, wherein the clamp mechanism isreleasably spring urged in frictional engagement with the body part. 5.A trolley device as claimed in claim 2 wherein the secondarycontainer-contactable means is moveable along the body part towards andaway from the primary container-contactable means.
 6. A trolley deviceas claimed in claim 5 wherein the moveable secondarycontainer-contactable means is adapted to be displaced along the bodypart by a hand or foot operable member or by actuation means in theregion of the handle means.
 7. A trolley device as claimed in claim 1wherein the secondary container-contactable means includes at least onehook member adapted to engage an upper internal sidewall of said opentopped container below an uppermost internal rim thereof.
 8. A trolleydevice as claimed in claim 7 wherein a pair of hook members are providedwhose ends project towards the body part.
 9. A trolley device as claimedin claim 8 wherein the secondary container-contactable means furthercomprise a pair of generally parallel plates interconnected by a joiningsegment having an aperture through which the body part passes.
 10. Atrolley device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the body part includes oris otherwise attached to a wheeled chassis.
 11. A trolley device asclaimed in claim 10, wherein the primary container-contactable means ismounted upon the chassis and project outwardly thereof.
 12. A trolleydevice as claimed in claim 1 wherein the primary container-contactableparts are fitted with removable and replaceable means to assistfrictional engagement between said primary means and said externalsidewall of a container.
 13. A trolley device as claimed in claim 1wherein the primary container-contactable and secondarycontainer-contactable means each comprise at least twocontainer-contactable surface members.
 14. A trolley device as claimedin claim 1 wherein the primary container-contactable means furtherincludes a moveable auxiliary container-contactable part.
 15. A trolleydevice as claimed in claim 14 in which the auxiliary part is moveablerotationally about said at least one container-contactable part.
 16. Atrolley device as claimed in claim 14 wherein the said one and theauxiliary container-contactable parts extend in parallel away from thebody part.
 17. A trolley device as claimed in claim 1 wherein theprimary container-contactable means comprises at least two spacedbrackets mounted upon a lower section of the device and each bracketincorporating a pivotally mounted arm upon which a pair ofcontainer-contactable formations are provided, such that at least fourcontainer-contactable formations are present.
 18. A trolley device asclaimed in claim 1, wherein the primary container-contactable meanscomprises at least two spaced pivot arms mounted in a horizontal planewhen the device is upright, both said pivot arms provided at or in theregion of their ends with container-contactable formations.
 19. Atrolley device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the container-contactableformations of the secondary container-contactable means are mountedconvergently.
 20. A trolley device as claimed in claim 1, wherein thecontainer-contactable formations of the secondary container-contactablemeans are provided with flexible ferrules.
 21. A trolley device asclaimed in claim 1, wherein the body part comprises three spaced apartgenerally parallel upright elongate lengths of tubing.
 22. A trolleydevice as claimed in claim 1 in combination with a container, preferablyan open-topped container.
 23. A trolley device as claimed in claim 1wherein the clamp mechanism is laterally turnable about the body part.